New Bern Mayor Lee Bettis told the Board of Aldermen this week that he will not seek a second term.

The time and place of his announcement during Tuesday’s public meeting was to quell the political posturing, Bettis said Friday in a telephone interview.

“I’m willing to do that,” he said. “I feel like now the campaign season is in full swing, we see aldermen acting as if they are running and distracting us from doing the people’s business.”

“I’m a public servant; I was never a politician and I think that shows in the way I’ve conducted myself,” said Bettis. “I perceive a politician is someone who wants the job because of the job. I had some things I wanted to get done and I think they are well on their way.”

A colorful, unconventional, and often controversial mayor, Bettis has vacillated on his intent to run again up to now. But asked directly if he is serious this time, he said, “Yes. Absolutely. That’s exactly why I did it Tuesday.”

“Clearly at least one alderman wants the job and I’m not playing that game,” he said. “It’s people’s lives entrusted to our power. I’m not running so they can stop running against somebody who is not running.”

“I don’t want any more nonsense on the board,” said Bettis. “It takes the steam out of good efforts for what we’re here to accomplish.”

Political undercurrents mention those interested as aldermen Dana Outlaw, Denny Bucher and Sabrina Bengel, and others in the community including former alderman Julius Parham and possibly, former mayor Tom Bayliss.

Bettis, a lawyer and relative newcomer to New Bern, won election in 2009 over four-term incumbent and native New Bernian Bayliss, an inventor and businessman.

Contacted Friday, Bayliss said he is not ruling out tossing his hat in the ring but can’t take Bettis’ announcement seriously. “He’s said he wasn’t, and then he was, now again that he isn’t.”

“But I’ve learned enough in my old age not commit to anything,” said Bayliss. “I’m not going to say I wouldn’t consider anything. That gives me freedom, which is what it’s all about.”

He said he is now “retired, doing nothing, which was my motive in life from the 11 th grade but it took while to get there. I’m enjoying life.”

Both Bengel and Bucher said they are being encouraged to run and are looking at the possibility but have made no decision.

Outlaw did not return phone calls.

Parham, who formerly served 20 years on the board, said, “I am considering it but I haven’t made up my mind.”

Page 2 of 2 - “I was approached six months ago and it is good to know people think you are capable of doing the job,” he said. “But I haven’t told them yes or no. If left up to my wife, I will not run. It takes a lot of time and we’re enjoying that now in other ways.”

Bettis said the objectives for the city he set out to do have been initiated under his leadership and are well on their way.

“We needed to straighten out city hall,” he said. “I fought hard to hire a good manager and Michael Epperson has created a fantastic city hall with group of professional department heads.

“I wanted to help revitalize Five Points and that area and fought hard to take control of the Housing Authority and to get the Renaissance Gateway Development Program going, and that’s well on its way.

“I wanted to get the finances of city under control and we now have a 25 percent general fund reserve,” said Bettis. The state requires 8 percent.

“Employees got cost of living increases and have not had to take demoralizing furloughs even in this tough time.”

“I said I would fight for lower electric rates and took on the Duke and Progress Energy merger and, with $350,000 in legal fees, got tens of millions in mitigation money for municipal users.”

Underway also, he said, is the city’s attempt to buy the old Day’s Inn building at Five Points which he wants to see demolished and replaced with a “21st century library, community center and nice anchor building for the community. I think that is a very doable project if we can get cooperation.”

“I decided I’m only doing one term,” said Bettis. “I wasn’t planning on announcing until later in the summer…but I can come out now and say I’m not a threat, nobody needs to posture. Maybe I can get some more things done in the next eight months and bring some order back to the meetings.”

Sue Book can be reached at 252-635-5665 or sue.book@newbernsj.com. Follow her on Twitter@SueJBook.